How, Senator Faruqi (Greens – NSW) wanted to know, is the Fair Work Ombudsman going with investigating universities underpaying staff? Ombudsman officers at Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate committee inquiry into university governance were glad she asked – just happening to have the numbers with them. To date the FWO has had contact with 38 universities (out of 42!), and there were on-going investigations into 28 (nine not public). So far, universities have had to pay 110,000 staff $218m for wages owed.
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UTS announced last week it would put some courses on hold for new students through to Autumn semester next year – while the present Academic Change Proposal is thrashed out with staff and campus unions, as per standard Enterprise Agreement operating practise. Yesterday, management announced the courses in five faculties and two schools that are non-starters through to February. Vice-Chancellor Andrew Parfitt says nothing is decided, no jobs will necessarily go and that the suspension is all about timing; with the Universities Admission Centre needing to know and the university handbook about to publish. Good-oh, but if courses are to be cut as part of a savings plan, guess which ones will be on the list.
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Uni WA was so hacked on Saturday that management told staff and students to change their passwords. Problem was students receiving a text telling them to do this pronto thought it was a scam.
The university stated it thought passwords alone were compromised but warned “there may be some disruption.” Which was not entirely negative – everybody got an extension on assessments due before Wednesday.
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Monash U has never been happy in the shopping centre biz, owning Caulfield Plaza, next to the campus it inherited in the ‘90s from the Caulfield Institute of Technology. The university finally gave the plaza as-is the push in 2023, promising a shiny replacement. But now that will not be, apparently the site is needed, “in response to significant growth in student numbers.” But for what? Who knows – management promises to “share updates as soon as more details are available.” So, how about the “food and beverage experience on campus”? Management is “turning our attention to enhancing” to it, is the reply. “Could they,” a reader asks “organise a shish in a kebab shop?”
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ANU management was having a bad day Tuesday, before it went to terrible and then way worse at a hearing of the Senate committee inquiring into university governance. Students complained about crowded classes and disregard for their education. Staff alleged bullying. It appeared to get better with university executives straight-batting questions about the immensely controversial savings plan. But it got worse after they left, when Senator Pocock (Independent – ACT) asked TEQSA officials about their inquiry into the university, which he helped start by raising financial administration concerns with Education Minister Jason Clare.
As it happened, ANU was supposed to have submitted a statement yesterday but had a week’s extension. TEQSA was keen to make it clear that this was not a pass, setting out the processes underway and making it clear that it took management of ANU seriously indeed. Any censure of university actions by the agency – say placing conditions on its registration – would be terminal for either/and/or Chancellor Julie Bishop and VC Genevieve Bell, however mildly expressed. TEQSA moves slowly, speaks softly but carries a very big regulatory stick.
But do not write the Bs off yet. Wayne Martin (former chief justice of WA) and very senior former Commonwealth public servant Andrew Metcalfe haven’t. They are new members of the university’s governing council.
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Before the election, a Senate committee considered Jacqui Lambie’s Bill to cap Vice-Chancellors pay and Universities Australia was outraged. “This is yet another example of our sector being weaponised for political gain, and yet another distraction from the conversations we need to have about funding universities properly.” But now the committee is considering the Bill in the new parliament, not so much. The University Chancellors Council has come over all conciliatory, suggesting the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal could advise on appropriate pay. UA agrees, “we consider the UCC’s proposal to be a constructive step in strengthening public confidence in our sector while preserving the autonomy of university governing bodies,” it tells the committee. Nothing clears the mind like a Senate with a Labor-Greens majority and a full-term to run.
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In NSW the Minns Labor Government announces a review of the state Apprentice and Trainee Act (2001). It starts with a survey so all involved can “share their experiences and shape improvements to the system.” “Hang on,” you ask, “wasn’t there a national inquiry on fixing apprenticeships for the feds?” Well remembered. Iain Ross and Lisa Paul filed their Australian Apprenticeship System Strategic Review in February. And filed is where it remains, while the “government carefully considers longer-term reforms and consults further with stakeholders.” What happens next is whether you define “longer-term” as “not during this Parliament” or “never.”
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Education Ministers have an expert group working on advice for them on university governance and the University Chancellors Council is helping-out. UCC chair John Pollaers (Swinburne U) is one of the experts, plus the UCC is providing secretariat support. The Education Ministers are ok with this. The sector rank and file perhaps not so much.
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The feds have finally got around to advising us of great work by the Australia-Switzerland Joint Science, Research and Innovation Committee at a Sydney meeting, July 2. Apparently, it provided a “powerful convening function to connect, exchange insights and explore further collaboration opportunities.” Good thing there were plenty of people to connect, exchange and explore – there are 24 in the official photo.
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Undergraduates are generally optimistic their degree will deliver in the job market, according to results for Australia in study support provider Studiosity’s annual survey with 77% saying they will have the skills they need and nearly two-thirds expecting to have a degree-related job six months after graduation.
But 38 % of HASS students were not confident, or neutral. It’s good news, sort of, for the humanities and social science establishment – given students are paying top HELP dollar, they must really, really be interested in their subjects. Then again, it also explains why there are fewer of them – according to the DoE, system-wide HASS starts were down 15 % across 2019-23.
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Another small win for Open Access. The Royal Society (as in the original) announces its journals will be OA from July, if enough libraries sign-on to Subscribe to Open – the deal is their subscription costs cover free to read and publish for all. There is no word of any increase in sub costs.